Page:Folk-lore of the Holy Land.djvu/57

Rh of the place where I killed a kid for thee.” Ibrahim said nothing, but passed on his way. Not long after this he had occasion to make a third journey, and on meeting the Bedawi the latter told him that the flocks he was seeking were at such a distance south of “the place where I killed a kid for thee.” The next time El-Khalil met the man, he told him that the sheep were so and so far east of the place where that precious kid had been killed. “Ya Rabbi, O my Lord,” exclaimed Ibrahim, past patience, “Thou knowest how ungrudgingly I exercise hospitality without respect of persons. I beseech Thee, therefore, that as this man is constantly throwing his wretched kid in my teeth, I may be enabled to vomit it out, even though it be so long a time since I partook thereof.” The prayer received an instant answer, and the slaughtered kid was restored alive and whole to its churlish owner.

Amongst other things which, according to Moslem tradition, began with Ibrahim, we may mention three. The first of these was the rite of circumcision, which was instituted in order that the corpses of Moslems slain in battle might be distinguished from those of unbelievers and receive decent burial. The second was the wearing of the wide Oriental trousers called “‘ Sirwal.”’ Till the time of Ibrahim the only clothing worn was that which pilgrims to Mecca have to wear on approaching that city. Itis called the “Ihram,” and consists of a woollen loin-cloth, and another woollen cloth thrown over the shoulders. Finding these garments insufficient for the demands